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2/16/26, 10:41 AM Ryan Malhan Tops BWF World Junior Rankings In Landmark Achievement For UAE Badminton | Pakistan Point

Ryan Malhan Tops BWF World Junior Rankings In

Landmark Achievement For UAE Badminton

3 days ago

ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2026) Ryan Malhan has marked a historic
milestone for UAE badminton by topping the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) youth
rankings, following his impressive, well-deserved victory at the BWF-sanctioned Hungarian
International Youth Championship.

The achievement crowns a standout run of continental and international success. Malhan
previously secured a bronze medal at the 2025 Asian Youth Games, building on his earlier
podium finish at the 2024 Asian U15 Championships. Together, these achievements firmly
establish him as one of Asia’s elite players in his age category.
Malhan’s rise on the global stage reflects the strength of the UAE’s
integrated sports development framework, led by the UAE Committee For Talent
And Sports Support. At the heart of this progress is the recently launched ‘National Athlete
Pathway,’ a comprehensive integrated framework designed to identify, nurture, and elevate
sporting talent in line with international best practices.

Elite Sport UAE (ESUAE) has also played a critical role in his journey by providing a
professional high-performance environment through the Badminton Centre of Excellence.
This includes advanced technical support and specialised strength and fitness programs
tailored to support elite-level development.

As part of its ongoing efforts, the Committee also organised a high-level specialised technical
meeting with world-renowned global badminton star Anders Antonsen, currently
ranked World No. 3 by the BWF. Antonsen, a European Games champion (2019), four-time
European Champion (2021–2024), and multiple World Championships bronze medalist
(2021, 2023, 2025), met with officials and emerging talents on the sidelines of
the UAE Sports Talent Badminton Championship. The meeting, which concluded recently,
aimed to strengthen the player’s technical capabilities and enhance his pathway toward
world-class performance.

Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development
and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, and Chairman of the UAE Committee
For Talent And Sports Support, highlighted Malhan’s achievement as a testament to the
nation’s strategic vision and commitment to investing in sporting talent.
He emphasised that the accomplishment reflects a unified institutional effort and
demonstrates the effectiveness of the ‘National Athlete Pathway’ in preparing athletes to
compete, succeed, and represent the UAE at the highest international levels.

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